Council able to sell Paringa site for development

A pocket of land in Paringa, next to the Paringa Hotel, is now available for commercial development.

The South Australian Government has agreed to revoke the area's community land status, which will allow the Renmark Paringa Council to sell the land for development.

The council's chief executive Tony Siviour says it has not decided whether it will actively market the land.

Mr Siviour says he expects it will continue to sit unused.

"That's what it's done for four years, it's just sat there, so it's not going to be any different, the only difference is that if someone wants to utilise it for a different function, it's available for sale," he said.

A number of local residents have argued that the land should retain its status and be turned into a community park.

However, Mr Siviour says it is already looking at developing more recreational areas for Renmark and Paringa.

"We're currently developing our open space strategy which we'll be seeking feedback from the community on, so that'll be a 10 to 15-year vision on what people want done with their open space areas in their district," he said.

Local grower Dennis Frahn says he has been trying to plant native trees and develop the site into a park since the 1990s.

He says he is disappointed that the land can now be bought and developed.

"We spent a lot of time in trying to design something with a pergola in the middle and lawn areas and probably a barbecue area as well, so I'm just disappointed that it wasn't carried out after the time we spent on it and the thought and also the work we did too," he said.